Friction device



y 1961 R. 1.. BLANCHARD 2,992,845

FRICTION DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1958 INVENTOR. Kofiert L. Blane/ZaraMun/2,1113% Daniels MdFC/Z flT'Tof/VEYS United rates Patent 2,992,845FRICTION DEVICE Robert L. Blanchard, 168 W. 58th St., New York-19, N.Y.Filed Feb. 20, 1958, Ser. No. 716,382 8 Claims. (Cl. 287-58) Thisinvention relates to devices constituting separable joints orconnectors, and more particularly to connector or joint devices of thetype wherein one part telescopes with another.

The invention is illustrated in connection with telescoping tubularmembers such as are advantageously employed in collapsible tentconstructions and the like. However, it will be understood that theinvention is not to be limited to tent or similar structures but insteadhas utility generally in the field of separable connections or joints.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved separablejoint device which is especially simple in its construction, involvingessentially but a single novel functional member other than theinterfitting or telescoping parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved connector orjoint device as above set forth, which is especially adapted or suitedto a construction wherein one of the separable parts has a telescopingportion of reduced diameter, forming in said part an internal, annularshoulder.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved separablejoint device of the above type, wherein a simple folded wire piece mayconstitute the functional member which effects retention of one part onthe other.

-A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improvedseparable joint device as the above characterized, wherein the foldedwire part may constitute not only a frictional detent but also a keyingmeans to prevent relative turning movement of the telescoping parts.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improvedseparable joint device having a folded wire detent piece as above setforth, wherein simple means are provided in conjunction with said piece,for tying the separable parts to each other against complete separationwhen the parts are uncoupled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedseparable connector or coupling device in accordance with the foregoing,which is extremely simple in its construction, involving few inexpensiveparts easily and quickly assembled, and which is nevertheless reliablein its action at all times.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters ofreference indicate corresponding parts wherever possible in the severalviews, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an axial sectional view of a separable joint device made inaccordance with the invention, the separable parts being shown ascoupled to each other.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of a separable joint deviceillustrating another form of the invention, the separable parts beingshown as uncoupled from each other but held together against completeseparation.

FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of a separable joint device showing amodification of the invention wherein the separable parts are preventedfrom relative turning when coupled to each other.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of one of the parts of the separablejoint of FIG. 3.

Referring first to FIG. 1 there is shown a separable tubular-jointfriction device comprising a pair of telescoping members and 11, themember 10 being in the form of a tube having an elongate bore 12 adaptedto receive a portion 13 (of the member \11) which is swaged or otherwiseformed to have a reduced diameter.

By virtue of the forming of the member 11 it will have a portion 14characterized by a relatively large bore 15, said portion 14 beingnormally disposed outside of the member 10. The smaller-diameter portion13 of the member 11 is receivable in the bore 12 of the member 10, andhas a bore 16 which is smaller than the bore 15, as may be readily seen.With this construction, a shoulder portion 118 exists between theportions 13 and 14, presenting both an exterior annular shoulder and aninternal annular shoulder.

In accordance with the present invention I provide a simple and novelspring part 20, adapted to be carried in the member 11 and to occupy thebores 15 and 16 thereof, said spring part being advantageously formed ofa bent or folded wire and being constituted to act as a spring detent.The part 20 may have a yoke or connector portion 21 constituted of ayoke proper 22 and legs 23, and may have extensions 24 of such legs,disposed mainly in the smaller bore 16. The wire part 20 has bends 25which are adapted to engage the internal shoulder of the shoulderportion 18, comprising cooperable friction detent means to position thewire part 20 in the member 11.

One end 27 of the wire part is formed as a loop disposed in a diametricplane, said loop projecting laterally and axially from the extremity ofthe member 11, whereas the other end 28 is bent at an angle toconstitute a hook and is adapted to engage the edge of the saidextremity. The angular end 28 of the wire part 20 in conjunction withthe bends 25 provide for positioning and retention of the wire part inthe member 11.. The loop end 27 is adapted to engage the inside of themember 10 under appreciable pressure, thereby to frictionally retain themembers 10 and 11 in the assembled positions shown.

The wire part 20 may be constituted of relatively heavy and stiff wire,as for example No. 12 or 11, whereby an appreciable force may be exertedagainst the inside of the member 10 to effect the said frictionretention.

It will be observed that the rounded portion of the loop 27 mayconstitute in efiect a sloping nose, engageable with the edge orextremity of the member 10 when the two members are being broughttogether. In consequence, an advantageous camming action results, whichenables the members to be interfitted even though the spring pressure ofthe wire part 20 is quite considerable.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provide anextremely simple, novel frictional joint device whereby two telescopingmembers may be readily coupled together and held in coupled relation. Myimproved friction device comprises essentially the single wire part 20,which is simple and inexpensive to fabricate, and which may be easilyand quickly inserted in or assembled to the member ll by use of asuitable tool. The bends 25 and the bent end 28 will effectively retainthe wire part 20 in the member 11, once it has been assembled therein. Afriction joint device as above set forth may be advantageouslyincorporated in collapsible tent constructions, as well as in otherequipment requiring a quick assembly and disconnect device.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2, whereinthe members 10a and 11a when pulled apart are still prevented fromcomplete separation. In this figure, the spring part 20a is similar tothe part 20 described above except that the end portion 28a thereof isshorter, and extends into a side opening 32 in the wall of the member11a. This blocks the wire part 20a in place in a positive manner. Iadditionally provide a cord, chain, wire or linkage 34 one end of whichis secured to the loop 27a of the wire part 2011 and the other end ofwhich passes through an opening 35 in the wall of, the member a wherebythe members are permanentlyv tied to each other even when uncoupled. Thecord 34 may be of nylon or other suitable material, as will be readilyunderstood.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4,wherein a wire part 201) has an angular end portion 28b which not onlypasses through but projects radially from the side of the reducedportion 13a of the member 11a.

Adapted to receive the reduced portion 13a is a mem ber 10b having anelongate bore 12b provided with a longitudinal groove or keyway 38. Thegroove 38 is adapted to receive the projecting end portion 28b of thewire part 2011 when the members 10b and 11a are coupled together, andthus the said members are prevented from having relative turningmovement. The loop 27b of the wire part 2% exerts force on the wall ofthe bore 12b to eifect a frictional detent, as with the previouslydescribed forms of the invention. If desired, the cord 34 may \also beused with the device of FIGS. 3 and 4, by tying the cord to the eye 27 bof the spring in the manner indicated in FIG. 2, and securing the cordwithin the tubular member =10!) in any suitable manner.

It will be readily understood from the foregoing that I have provided asimple, improved separable-joint friction device having novel keyingmeans preventing relative turning movement of the separable parts, andhaving a novel cord or linkage means preventing complete separation ofthe coupling members.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims,and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A separable joint device comprising a pair of telescoping members,one member having an elongate, deep bore and the other member having anelongate hollow part a portion of which is receivable in said bore andanother portion of which remains outside of said bore and has a.

larger bore than said one portion, the said part having an internalshoulder between the said longer and smaller bores and having anexternal shoulder adjacent the location of the internal shoulder andengageable with the.

edge of said one member to limit the telescoping movement of themembers, and a folded wire spring disposed in said hollow part, having ayoke portion and having a shoulder portion adjacent said yoke portion,said hollow part and wire spring having cooperable friction detent meansnormally yieldably retaining the spring in said part and enablingseparation of the spring from the part in response to a sufficient pullbeing exerted on the spring, said'cooperable detent means comprising thesaid shoulder of the spring and internal shoulder of the hollow part,said shoulder of the spring engaging the said internal shoulder in thebore of the hollow part, thereby to retain the spring therein, and saidspring further having one end portion projecting from the end of said 4hollow part and offset laterally whereby it is adapted to frictionallyengage and seize a wall of the bore of the one member to frictionallyretain the members together.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the said one endportion of the spring is formed into a loop disposed substantially in adiametrie plane, said loop having an outer portion adapted to projectbeyond the outer wall of the said hollow part.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the wire spring hasanother end portion bent into the shape of a hook and adapted to engageand hook over the edge of the said hollow part.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the said one end portionof the spring is formed into a loop disposed substantially in adiametric plane, said loop having an outer portion adapted to projectbeyond the outer wall of the said hollow part, and in which the wirespring has another end portion bent into the shape of a hook and adaptedto engage and hook over the edge of the said hollow part.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the spring has a secondend portion bent at an angle, and in which the hollow part has anopening in its wall, in which said bent end portion is disposed, therebyto lock the wire spring in the hollow part.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which there is a cord securedto the said one end portion of the wire spring and secured in the boreof the said other member,

to prevent the said members from being completely separatedfrom'each-other.

7. The invention as defined in claim 4 in which the hooked end of thewire spring projects beyond the wall of the hollow part, and in whichthe said one member has a longitudinal groove in the wall of the saidbore thereof, said groove being adapted to receive the extended hook,thereby to prevent relative turning between the members.

8. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which there is a cord securedto the said one end portion of the wire spring and secured in the boreof the said one member, thereby to prevent the members from beingcompletely separated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,309,060 Boye July 8, 1919' 1,646,049 Boye Oct. 18, 1927 1,964,554 BallJune 26, 1934v 2,043,007 Place June 2, 1936 2,048,812 Place July 28,1936 2,208,196 Pitt July 16, 1940 2,296,241 Blum Sept. 22, 19422,488,480 Spirt Nov. 15, 1949 21,522,394 Myers Sept. 12, 1950 2,551,294Ross May 1, 1951' 2,580,482 Stukenborg et al. Jan. 1, 1952 2,800,737Crossan July 30, 1957

